BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH

LEMONT IL

The Messenger NOVEMBER 2014

BAPTISM On October 5th, we welcomed Alexander Gabriel Murcia. Alexander is the son of Michael and Ashley Murcia and the baby brother of Noah. He is the grandson of James Templeton & Ashley Brown, Marla Templeton & Keith Greenwalt and Ernest & Linda Murcia.

Welcome, Alexander

The Annual Congregational Meeting of Bethany Church will take place on Sunday, November 23rd at 11:30 AM. Financial information will be presented as well as the proposed 2015 budget. A vote will also be taken on the new Bethany Constitution and potentially on a loan that would enable us to replace the sanctuary boiler. New council members will also be elected. Mark your calendars to attend this important meeting!

Giving Thanks and GROW-ONE November is a month of thanksgiving and I’m not just talking about the great American feast day! In worship, there will be a theme of giving thanks for God’s many gifts. Through the stewardship campaign, GROW-ONE, the congregation will be invited to give thanks for God’s abundance by growing one step in our financial giving and responding with a commitment to Bethany’s ministry and mission. We will offer those commitments on our GROW-ONE Sunday, November 16, and as a way of saying thanks, the Stewardship Committee will host a coffee fellowship following worship. There will be no Saturday evening worship on November 15 so that the congregation can celebrate our GROW-ONE Sunday together. The season will wrap up with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 23. Join us in counting blessings and giving thanks! Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 Visit us at www.bethanylemont.org

BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH

LEMONT IL

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Coming in Advent Advent, a season of hope, begins on Sunday, November 30. It’s also a busy season during which we can be easily distracted from the most important things. For quiet space in hustle and bustle, for meaning in the midst of shopping, for a focus on the coming of Christ instead of the coming of Santa, join us for Advent Evening Worship, Wednesdays (December 3, 10, 17) at 7PM. These special worship opportunities will be different than our Sunday services. **Please note, in order to honor Pr. Elaina’s ¾ time hours, Wednesday evening worship will be in place of Saturday services. There will be no Saturday services November 29 through December 27.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS FUNDRAISER A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS! $1000.00 was raised through the efforts of many helpers, crafters, bakers and soup and chili makers. The tables were heavy with delicious treats and hearty bowls of soup and chili. Thank you to all the talented crafters and sewers who, through their labor of love, filled the Bethany Bazaar Table with their donated crafts. Thanks to the Bethany Quilters who created a quilt for raffle. $43.00 was raised from their efforts and the winner of the quilt was Jodi Taylor. A special word of gratitude to all those who helped to set up and tear down the room and those who did whatever needed to be done! This was a wonderful collaboration of our members who made this event so memorable. A special shout out to Joy Semetulskis for organizing this great event!

BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH

LEMONT IL

PAGE 3 Pastor has a new microphone. Come and hear a sermon clearly!

Fall Clean-up! Please join us on Saturday, November 22 between 10 am-2 pm for some fall clean-up! A majority of projects will be indoors, specifically going through items that have collected in the hallways, organizing the room behind the sanctuary, and sorting through boxes of documents. We also hope to go through the garage to clear out unneeded items. Our goal is to be clutter free before the Christmas holidays. Lunch will be provided for our helpers! Many hands makes light work!

Did you know that Bethany Church had a table at the Halloween Hoedown?

The Ten Commandments Chicago Confirmation Retreat February 6-8th, 2015 at Lutherdale Bible Camp In Elkhorn, WI Explore the Ten Commandments! Music, games, worship, friends, fellowship and fun are all part of this weekend! This program is open to 6-8th grade students and there is a separate program for 9th-12th graders. This retreat will help you take a closer look at what Luther’s Small Catechism has to say about the commandments and how they play a role in our relationship with God and all people. The cost is $110.00 per person. Registration and a $25.00 fee are due November 16th. Pastor Elaina will be attending this event.

Thanks to Zach Howell, Kealy Schroeder, Jackie & David Jaje, Dustin Johnson and friends for showcasing the good things happening at Bethany. Candy and supplies were donated by the Schroeder and Jaje families and Roberrta Ahlberg made flyers to handout to interested parties.

2015 Offering envelopes have arrived. Please pick them up in the Narthex. They are in alphabetical order. If you have any questions, you may call Sharon Ahlberg at 630-257-6290.

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN MEAL PACKING IS THIS WEEKEND! We have 41 Bethany members participating in this event to pack over 272,000 meals over the course of three days and Send Hunger Packing! Through the purchase of T-shirts and the “Quarter Drive”, we have raised $708.10 for this worthwhile organization. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED

BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH

LEMONT IL

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NOVEMBER BOOK CLUB Book Club will meet at the home of Jodi Taylor on Wednesday, November 19th at 2PM. The selection is Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers. In her latest inspirational tale, Pastor Zeke feels compelled to walk to the bridge at the edge of Haven, his small Northern California town. There he discovers an abandoned newborn infant. Rivers’ persistent Christian message will please readers who are seeking fiction with a repeated and strong message about redemption and salvation.

Thank you to Ardy Wakefield for the gorgeous Bethany Flower Garden. Ardy works tirelessly throughout the spring, summer and fall to make the front of our church look colorful and welcoming.

Bethany Lutheran Mission Statement Bethany Lutheran Church works to be a growing, living, faith community focusing on outreach. Following the example of Christ, we will share love, grace and hope and commit the resources of time, talents and wealth to our church, our village and all of God’s creation. To Kris Falese for having the Feed My Starving Children t-shirts personalized and covering the cost of it too! To Jack Olson for sorting through old records to see what we no longer needed.

To Bruce Taylor for fixing lights at the parsonage. To Jodi Taylor for hauling all the old fluorescent light bulbs to the Recycling Day at the train station. To Gary Gray for repairing the handrail at the parsonage. To all our tireless volunteers who work quietly behind the scenes to keep Bethany moving forward!

CALENDAR November 6-8 Thursday, November 6, 6PM Friday, November 7, 5PM Sunday, November 9, 10:30AM Thursday, November 13, 7:30PM Saturday, November 15 Sunday, November 16, 10:30AM Wednesday, November 19, 2PM Sunday, November 23, 11:30 AM Saturday, November 29 Wednesday, December 3, 7PM

Feed My Starving Children Event Choi/Svoboda Wedding Rehearsal Choi/Svoboda Wedding Eighth Grade Confirmation Class leads Worship Church Council Meeting No Saturday Evening Worship Grow-One Sunday with refreshments following Worship Book Club at the home of Jodi Taylor Annual Congregational Meeting No Saturday Evening Worship First Advent Service

BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH

LEMONT IL

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GIFTS TO BETHANY A gift to the QUILT MINISTRY from Ed & Glenda Anderson to help offset shipping costs. Gifts to the CEMETERY FUND were received in loving memory of Carl Ahlberg on the tenth anniversary of his death by Kerri & Corey Schroeder and Kelly & John Jaje. Gifts to the GENERAL FUND were received from : Wendy & Steve Peebles Linda & Michael Naus in loving memory of Eleanor Anderson Thulin Family in loving memory of Oren & Norma Thulin Dolores Gutowski in loving memory of Eugene Gutowski on the anniversary of his death

IN OUR PRAYERS Bethany Members Ginny Connelly Karen Rae Peyton Kirk Carl “Slip” Johnson Leona Nelson Rev. Glenn Bergmark

Norm Epler Ray Ludwig Theora Kujawa Marie Heeren Frank Iwan

Friends and Relatives of Bethany Members Joanne Bauer―friend of Jim & Ginny Connelly Gary Cobbett―friend of the Bergmarks Nancy Olin―aunt of Heather & Mike Nilles Dave Mesich―cousin of Frank Iwan Eleanor Slager―friend of Bethany Dan Herzing―friend of the Iwan Family Blake Donegan―friend of Glenda Anderson Francis Valencia―friend of the Connellys Diane Reyes―mother of Cheryl Sabourin Sue Knight―former member Audrey Gee―relative of Virginia & Bob Hoster Peggy Lambert―friend of the Olkiewicz Family Pat Genardo―friend of the Connellys Kinley Ray―friend of Ed & Glenda Anderson Janet Kuchar―daughter of Virginia & Bob Hoster Debbie Hessert―friend of Sue Gray John Kettle―friend of Jim & Ginny Connelly Sean Clark―friend of Kelsey Schroeder Rudy Cozzi―friend of Glenda & Ed Anderson Julie Powell―sister of John Howell Wesley Ratton―friend of the Olkiewicz family Brenda Ratton―friend of the Olkiewicz Family Cindy Taylor―sister-in-law of Jodi & Bruce Taylor Amelia Wilson―niece of Keith & Lori Olkiewicz John Shea―brother-in-law of Heather & Mike Nilles Butch Jirgl―friend of Ed & Glenda Anderson Karl Knasiak―brother-in-law of John & Kelly Jaje Craig Mikalayanaus―neighbor of the Garlings Bobbi Schoenberger―friend of MariLynn Bergmark Marianne Carlson―friend of Ginny Connelly & Karen Rae Justin & Stephanie Wormsley―friends of Jodi & Bruce Taylor

If you would like to add anyone to the Bethany Prayer List, call or email the church office OR drop a note in the offering plate―be sure to include your name. Conversely, if anyone listed is no longer in need of our prayers, please notify us as well.

BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH

LEMONT IL

NOVEMBER 2014

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED FOOD STAPLES TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY Lemont Community Garden Lemont High School Jurgis Matulaitis Mission St. Patrick Church St. Alphonsus Church Oakwood School The Salmon Family Lemont High School Speech Team Ed & Glenda Anderson

Emmanuel Baptist Church St. Matthew’s Church T.O.P.S. Chapter #2196 Old Quarry Middle School Rotary Club of Lemont/Homer Glen Citgo Petroleum Corp. Lemont Police Department Diana Lenckus

MONETARY DONATIONS TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY WERE GIVEN BY Mark & Maureen Skowronski Elsie Schultz Kathy & Kevin Shingler Laima Trinkunas Michelle & Dan Balich Brian & Donna O’Donnell John & Donna Lichacz Michael & Denise Aranshus

BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH 500 LEMONT STREET LEMONT IL 60439

Fred & Pamela Schmitz Lois Miller Donald & Patty Krengiel Nick’s Tavern Sarah O’Donnell Gregory & Kimberly Manning Ralph & Gina Pontrelli Little Mountain Community Theatre